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General Motors has promoted Holden's chief back to the US, elevating a new MD from within Holden

GM Holden's Chairman and Managing Director, American-born Mark Reuss, 45, has been promoted within the parent company to a product development role in the United States, as UK-born Alan Batey takes over his role from September 1, 2009.

Following the company's rapid emergence from bankruptcy proceedings, the changes are part of a wide-ranging reshuffle of senior and middle management positions across General Motors global operations.

Holden's outgoing MD, Mark Reuss, is expected to play a significant role in GM's product development in his as yet unnamed new position in the States.

Alan Batey, 46, has been named Chairman and Managing Director of Holden. He will take up his new position on 1 September, 2009.

Mr Batey - currently Holden’s Executive Director, Sales, Marketing and Aftersales - succeeds Mark Reuss, 45, who has been appointed to a senior, as yet unnamed, product development role with General Motors based in the United States.

Mr Reuss has been Holden’s Chairman and Managing Director since February, 2008. He was previously Executive Director of Global Vehicle Integration, Safety and Virtual Vehicle Development and has a GM career spanning back to 1983.

Nick Reilly, GM Executive Vice President and President of GM International Operations, paid tribute to Mr Reuss’s leadership of Holden through a difficult period and said Mr Batey was an ideal appointment. The Holden position was among changes announced by Mr Reilly, unveiling the new leadership structure for GM’s International Operations.

“Mark’s leadership during what has been a tumultuous time for the auto industry, both in Australia and globally, has been outstanding. At a time when the industry has been in crisis and where the parent company has been through a Chapter 11 bankruptcy process, Mark has championed the interests of Holden at every turn,” Mr Reilly said.

“He has played a pivotal role in ensuring it is an important part of the new GM. He achieved a great deal in a relatively short time and returns to a key role in GM where he will remain a strong friend of Holden.

“Alan brings extensive leadership experience, exceptional product and commercial knowledge and a real passion for Holden. He has worked for GM across four continents and brings crucial continuity of leadership for Holden in what is a highly competitive marketplace. It is strong endorsement of the Holden leadership team that the Chairman and MD was able to be selected from within existing ranks."

Mr Batey was appointed Executive Director - Sales, Marketing and Aftersales at Holden Ltd in January 2006. He is also a member of the Holden Board of Directors. He was previously Vice President of Commercial Operations (Sales, Marketing and Aftersales) for GM Daewoo, a position he assumed in 2002 when the new business was formed.

Mr Batey began his career with General Motors in 1979 when he joined Vauxhall Motors in the United Kingdom as a mechanical engineer apprentice.

After various sales and marketing assignments with Vauxhall he transferred to GM’s European Headquarters in Zurich in 1993 and held the position of European Fleet Development Director.

In 1996 he moved to GM’s Middle East operations in Dubai and became Regional Director. In 1998 he moved back to Europe and was appointed Managing Director Opel Netherlands.

In 2000 he moved to Opel Germany and held the position of European Executive Director for Commercial Vehicles and Fleet Sales before moving to Seoul in January 2001 to join GM’s transition team in the acquisition of Daewoo.